There are but a few sweeter words in the English language than the word "home". I have thought the three sweetest words are mother, home and heaven. Home is the dearest place in all the world to the Christian heart. To have a fond love for home is not all injurious to Christian character. Those who have but little love for home will never succeed well in the Christian life. It may sometimes occur that some home members are so disagreeable that the Christian for peace sake will quit the home roof; but he still loves home. Sometimes young people think that to enjoy life they must get out from under parental rule and roof. We have an instance of this nature recorded in the Bible. How soon we learn of the prodigal's longing for the comforts of home. How often he thought of his father's house, that place so dear to him now. The love of home is a high mark of integrity. Show me one who has no love for home and I will show you one who has but little true manhood or womanhood. When duty demands our absence from home, we submit and go in the strength of His grace and return with joy.

You can nowhere find more of heaven upon earth than the Christian home. Look at the picture. A father with the Holy Bible, the mother and children listening in reverence to the heavenly message. Where, I say, can you find more of heaven? Such a scene is most sweet and sacred. The angels bent low to catch the chants of praise that arise from those devoted hearts to the gates of heaven. "Such a picture, "you may say, "is very beautiful and inspiring to look upon, but where is reality?" Thank God, such a home can be real in life, and it is your duty as a Christian to help it make so. God is pleased with such a home. It is much to His praise. Since such homes are so rare they are all the more glorifying to God, and we should strive the more earnestly to have them real.

In your home is the place to shine for God. It is the place to shed forth the radiant beams of Christian light from your grace-ladened soul. If you hope to prosper in the divine life, be your best at home and then shine in the splendor of Christian virtue when before public. Your life at home leaves its mark upon you. Shine in Christian beauty at home, and you will shine in beauty in public; but attempt away from home to be more than you are at home, and you will miserably fail.